Project Air Continued...
During a strong south swell, Snapper Rocks on Queensland's Gold Coast
has two levellers, the current pulling hard around 'the rock' and the
crowd desperately trying to survive it. Everyone is out there, hoping
for the 'one' - a frothing, spitting barrel on takeoff, that then
doubles up through the inside and runs on down past Little
Marley.
Today, Red Bull's elite surf team got their first real taste of
Snapper in 2010. Within two weeks, thousands of adoring fans will fill
Snapper's beach, as they cheer on the world's highest ranked
professional surfers in the Quiksilver Pro, and six from seven of Red
Bull's Project Air participants are guaranteed to be in that spotlight.Fanning, the hometown hero and two-time winner of the event, sits at the top of the heap and his appearance today at Snapper was like watching Moses part the Red Sea. As he made his way from the carpark to the lineup, friends greeted him warmly while strangers ogled his every move. Once in position at the spot he knows best, he deftly tore apart every wave he could get his board into.
South African Jordy Smith also challenged from deep, wearing one wave to the head and he very nearly muscled his way from the bowels of another. It would have been one of the tubes of the session if he made it, but there are some situations even Jord's remarkable 6'2" girth cannot win.
Sofia and Sally ripped, and Michel? Well, he said he didn't, but when was the last time you pulled a grab-rail reverse where your fins rotated higher than your head and considered it s#!t??
Never!
As the French would say, magnifique! 1200cc of engine power came into play this afternoon back at secluded Lennox. Sally, having progressed from the flats of the skateboard ramp, to the roll-in, to airing into the foam pit, hit the waves absolutely psyching.
When the 1200cc jetski roared to life, Sally was hanging onto the rope behind - water-ski style - and was whipped into the junky shore pound on her surfboard.
As the cameras rolled, 19-year-old Sally leapt for the heavens while executing a textbook frontside grab, a replica of the dozens she had just executed in the stenchy afternoon heat on the skateboard ramp.
Former world number two surfer, aerial innovator and coach, Shane Beschen, was beside himself.
"It was sick, to see the whole theory suddenly manifest before our eyes. This is the first step for Sally being able to bring it into her game in the competitive arena.
" Sally agreed it represented an incremental, yet important progression; "There's very few airs that are done in competition, but there are a couple girls that can do them semi-regularly. I'd say within two years, it will be common," she said. High Performance Manager Andy Walshe is most vocal when his team riders push themselves from their comfort zones.
"Obviously, it's still very early days, but the challenge of the ramp and the whole set up of the first day has dissipated," explained Walshe.
"Pushing our team to try new things and enjoy new ways of training is great - at the very least we're having a lot of fun which at the end of the day is important. It's why we're here."
Sofia and Sally ripped, and Michel? Well, he said he didn't, but when was the last time you pulled a grab-rail reverse where your fins rotated higher than your head and considered it s#!t?? Never!
As the French would say, magnifique! 1200cc of engine power came into play this afternoon back at secluded Lennox. Sally, having progressed from the flats of the skateboard ramp, to the roll-in, to airing into the foam pit, hit the waves absolutely psyching.
When the 1200cc jetski roared to life, Sally was hanging onto the rope behind - water-ski style - and was whipped into the junky shore pound on her surfboard.
As the cameras rolled, 19-year-old Sally leapt for the heavens while executing a textbook frontside grab, a replica of the dozens she had just executed in the stenchy afternoon heat on the skateboard ramp.
Former world number two surfer, aerial innovator and coach, Shane Beschen, was beside himself."It was sick, to see the whole theory suddenly manifest before our eyes. This is the first step for Sally being able to bring it into her game in the competitive arena.
" Sally agreed it represented an incremental, yet important progression; "There's very few airs that are done in competition, but there are a couple girls that can do them semi-regularly. I'd say within two years, it will be common," she said. High Performance Manager Andy Walshe is most vocal when his team riders push themselves from their comfort zones.
"Obviously, it's still very early days, but the challenge of the ramp and the whole set up of the first day has dissipated," explained Walshe.
"Pushing our team to try new things and enjoy new ways of training is great - at the very least we're having a lot of fun which at the end of the day is important. It's why we're here."
I like it
playing around with facebook connect on Red Bull
i like it
Nice
Super cool
Cool
;D